On April 9th 2017 luisa Kleine posted the following request in the general channel on our Slack:

Hello beautiful people! I would like to ask some questions, I would be very grateful, if you could send me you personal answers to my mail or here on slack. You can answer on a very concrete (like with a story) answer or with a philosophical abstract text. I will try to create something beautiful with all of it :slightly_smiling_face: thank you! So here are the questions:

1. What is sharing for you?
2. Why do you share?
3. What do we need to share? (which virtues, circumstances…)
4. How can you encourage/support people to develop these virtues/How can you create an enviroment where people share?
5. Which results would come out of sharing?
6. What are to common misunderstandings about sharing?
7. What are arguments against sharing?

Big hugs and an open heart to all of you,
Luisa

Here are some of the answers:

Janina

1.

Sharing, or more specifically unconditional sharing, is the solution to basically all the problems of the modern world. It is more a mindset, than the action itself, that makes it so special: It is born out of the realization, that having more - especially more than others - doesn't make you richer. Instead it only burdens you with unnessecary responsibilities and the fear of losing what you amassed; it builds up walls between you and others, because the amount of possessions and the status derived from that, creates distinct social classes based on envy and greed. Sharing is the opposite of greed, and as such it creates joy from giving, rather than from taking.

2.

I share because I want to feel this joy of giving.

I share because I want to be conscious about what I really need.

I share because I don't want to have a pile of stuff tying me down to one single location.

I share because I want to make more people realize that it's possible.

I share because I want to meet everybody with trust.

I share because I don't want to miss out on the true connections it creates.

I share because I believe that it's the only way humanity can move forward.

I share because I believe that there is enough stuff already out there.

I share because I don't believe that something is nessecarily better, just because it is new.

3.

We need to share everything we feel comfortable with sharing. It can begin with a smile, a conversation, a hug and a sandwich. It can grow to us wanting to share everything we once owned, because we realize that nothing we have, actually needs protection from others. Some things even multiply when shared. Love, trust, laughter and understanding are the most prominent examples. And when those build the basis for a sharing culture, everything else follows automatically - be it faster or slower.

4.

Sharing can never be forced, it has to be born out of personal realization and desire. Therefore the best way to encourage sharing is to simply do it. To show by example that it is not only possible but enriching and liberating. When granted a leap of faith, most people will react trustworthy, and the few who don't... well, they are the poor ones, who are not yet able to understand the amazingness they miss out on.

5.

A culture of freedom, that is. A society, in which people truly are equals. That doesn't mean that everybody is the same - god forbid! - but that everybody's life, well-being and voice has the same worth. An atmosphere of mindfulness and respect, of love and enthusiasm, free of fear, envy and bitterness. A world, in which people can come together in a way that is open, honest and positive - even when there are conflicts! - because they trust each other to always do the best they're capable of. And due to this trust alone, that's exactly what they do.

6.

Sharing doesn't only mean to give though. Taking is an as important part. Taking without feeling the need to recompensate. Accepting someone else's kindness just for what it is. No debt is to be attributed or felt - and that is actually the harder part than giving!

7.

Living the culture of unconditional sharing requires the members to be deeply in touch whith their own needs, motivations and values. The process of understanding and integrating one's own inconsistencies is of utmost importance, and not everybody can or wants to do that. Unclear needs however, can lead to paradoxical behavior, which at worst thwarts the original agenda. Also, a lot of empathy is needed, when figuering out together where people are at in their personal process of reaching clarity and consequence. Patience and understanding are crucial as well, to not lose trust and hope in them proceeding. And in the end, thought-through processes are needed to be able to handle those, who actually are toxic; those who are just not able to be productive parts of this very open culture; those who just drain energy, positivity and love, that would be invested much more productively elsewhere. But where to draw the line? How to identify those harmful elements without losing the focus on trust..?

Basically, unconditional sharing is like anarchy: A system that works flawlessly, when used by humans, who are truly free to begin with. When used by people, who bring their own emotional baggage into the system - as it is normal nowadays - a lot of thinking, talking, realizing, admitting and transforming needs to be done. People grow, when tackling such challenges and the rewards are huge! Souls expand, horizons widen, possibilities become visible and true fulfillment becomes graspable! Still, it is not easy to get there...

In today's societies we learn, that safety is something that can only be attained by shutting others out, by hiding our flaws, by locking away our treasures and by suspecting the worst from everybody, so that we will never be caught off guard. It takes time to really understand the misleaded logic behind this mindset, and much more time to rework oneself's inner wiring to deeply and intuitively believe in the alternative that is unconditional sharing.